Railway signal



1 24 2 Shets-Sheet 1.

M I H MWW H H Aug, 24 1926 v w. .NORRIS RAILWAY SIGNAL Filed Feb: 26,

W. NORRIS RAILWAY SIGNAL,

Filed Feb. 26 1,924 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 atented Aug. 24, 1926.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM NORRIS, QF IBILLINGS, MONTANA.

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

Application filed February 26, 1924. Serial No. 695,335.

This invention relates to a signal for railroads, the general object of the invention being to provide means for giving a danger signal at a bridge when the water in the stream spanned by the bridge has reached a dangerous level and thus warn the engiuser that he should not proceed over'the bridge until an inspection has been made of it to seewhether or not the high water has damaged it.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for holding thesignal in operative position until it is lowered by manual means.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or.corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a view showing the invention in use.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view through Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view of the signal with its arm in lowered position.

Figure I is a view taken at right angles to Figure 3.

In these views, A indicates a bridge over which the track B passes and in carrying out my invention I arrange a signal post 1 at each end of the bridge, each post carrying the usual semaphore arm 2. A frame 8 is fastened to one of the columns of the bridge, said frame acting as a vertical guideway for a float i whichis designed to be raised by the water in the stream spanned by the bridge. This float normally rests upon the projections 5 in the frame which are arranged above the water level of the stream so that the level of water must reach a dangerous point before the float is. operated. A main cable 6 is fastened to the bottom of the float and passes under the pulleys 7 arranged at the bottom of the frame and passed upwardly where it is connected with the branch cables 8 which pass along the track and up the post 1 and are connected with the semaphore, as shown at 9. Suitable guiding pulleys are provided for these the same.

arms the latch members are moved to re- 80 cables. It will thus be seen that when the float is raised by high water the cables will act to raise the arms into signal position, as

shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. As the arms move to this position they are engaged by the latch members 11 on the posts so that they are held in raised position until the latch members are manually moved to releasing position so that the arms can be lowered.

From the foregoing it will be seen that as soon as the water in the stream reaches a high level where there is danger of it weakening the bridge the float will move the 7 the bridge in either direction will be warned of the fact that the water under the bridge is at a dangerous level and that the bridge should be inspected before he proceeds across When it is desired to lower the leasing position and the arms lowered.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may 35 nalre changes in the construction and 1n the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

For instance, the signal arm may be provided with a lamp so that the signal can be seen at night as well as during the day.

lVhat I claim is In combination with a bridge, a vertically arranged frame connected with the support of the bridge, a float slida-bly mounted in sald frame, pI'OjGCl11011S.OIl the frame for limiting the downward movement of the float, guide pulleys on the bottom of theframe and on the 'br1dge,a signal post at each endof the bridge, a signal arm on each post, a. main cable connected with the bottom of the float and passing over the guide pulleys on the frame, branch cables connected with the main cable and passing 105.

over the guide pulleys on the bridge to the posts and being connected with the arms and latch means for holding the arms in raised position.

ture.

' WILLIAM NORRIS.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signa- 

